Beijing has had an active few months of Arctic diplomacy.
Now, a few months after we wrote about China’s Belt and Road entering the Arctic, there have been certain developments that merit a follow-up. The most significant development from a long-term perspective is the release of a policy document in June, titled “ Vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative ” by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) aiming “to synchronize development plans and promote joint actions among countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.”
The paper highlights “ 3 sea routes planned for Belt & Road Initiative,” with the Arctic Ocean named in the same instance as such globally critical trade routes as the Suez Canal and the Pacific Ocean. The Arctic region is emerging as a new global trade route, which is already the case by air, while sea and land transportation are emerging. Concrete steps towards economic development are taking place in the Arctic, and China’s engagement has been an important driver for many significant Arctic projects.
Seeking Consensus
China’s engagement with Arctic partners showcases the region’s increased global importance. Last April, following a meeting with the President of the United States Donald Trump, at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, China’s President Xi Jiping, made a surprise visit to Alaska on his way back to China and discussed Arctic-related topics with Alaska’s Governor Bill Walker, including liquefied natural gas resources in Alaska and trade. China has become Alaska’s largest trade export market, with goods including seafood, minerals, oil and other products sold for for close to $1.2 billion in 2016.
Earlier, on his way to the United States, Xi made an official visit to Finland, the country that currently holds the Arctic Chairmanship for a two-year period before passing the torch to Iceland in 2019. Arctic issues and economic cooperation, including the Belt and Road Initiative, were high on the agenda during the visit. Further discussions on the Arctic issues and Nordic participation in the Belt and Road initiative have followed during prime minister visits from Norway and Denmark to China, as well during ministerial-level visits to Iceland and other Nordic countries. At the international Belt and Road Forum in Beijing last May, the Minister of Transport of Finland Anne Berner, was one of few Nordic minister-level participants, and Nordic infrastructure projects such as the Arctic Corridor have obvious synergies with the Belt and Road Initiative. The Vice Premier of China Wang Yang furthermore highlighted China’s increased Arctic contribution at the 4th International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk, Russia, last March.
The discussion is taking place on broad level, as was noticeable during the end of May when the China-Nordic Arctic Research Center (CNARC) held its 5th annual China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium in the port city of Dalian, with the Belt and Road initiative as a key topic, touched upon by leading policy-makers, industry representatives and scholars.
